This national approach, comprising a Clinical Academic Research Career (CARC) Framework and accompanying Principles, aims to provide a sustainable and consistent structure to guide NMAHP clinical research collaborations and role development for the mutual benefit of service users and quality improvement in research in the university sector and the NHS.

The framework was developed with the aim of providing a flexible
and sustainable infrastructure to support early, mid and late
Clinical Academic Research Career (CARC) pathways that combine
research and clinical practice.